Life as We Know It (film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Greg Berlanti (director) |
| Products | Romantic comedy-drama film |
Life as We Know It is a 2010 American romantic comedy-drama directed by Greg Berlanti, featuring performances by Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel. The narrative centers on two single individuals who must put aside their differences to raise their goddaughter following the tragic death of her parents in an automobile accident.
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures on October 8, 2010, the movie was met with predominantly unfavorable critical reviews but achieved commercial success, earning over $105 million globally.
Plot
Holly Berenson runs a modest bakery in Atlanta, while Eric Messer is an aspiring television technical director for the Atlanta Hawks. Their mutual acquaintances, Peter and Alison, arrange a blind date for them that ends poorly, creating friction between the two.
Peter and Alison marry and have a daughter named Sophie, appointing Holly and Eric as godparents despite their ongoing playful antagonism. Shortly after Sophie's first birthday, Peter and Alison perish in a car crash, resulting in Holly and Eric being named joint guardians. With no appropriate relatives available, they move into Sophie’s residence to jointly raise her.
Living together presents challenges as they balance parenting responsibilities with their careers. Eric’s job performance declines when Sophie's crying disrupts him during an important basketball broadcast. Holly’s relationship with Eric becomes complicated when she begins dating Sam, Sophie's pediatrician. Financial difficulties arise; Eric invests in Holly’s bakery to help sustain the business.
Their child protective services caseworker insists they either commit to co-parenting as a couple or separate to provide stability for Sophie. Eric receives an offer for his dream position with the Phoenix Suns, which he initially keeps from Holly. When she learns of it, tensions increase but eventually lead to efforts at reconciliation.
During a dinner hosted by Holly and Sam, disagreements emerge about selling the house due to maintenance expenses. Eric confesses his love but prepares to relocate to Phoenix. After encouragement from Sam, Holly admits her feelings for Eric. A pivotal moment occurs when Sophie calls Holly "Mama."
Janine, the caseworker, arrives for her final evaluation. Recognizing that she needs Eric’s support to care for Sophie effectively, Holly rushes to the airport but misses him. Eric returns home, affirming that they have become a loving family chosen by Peter and Alison.
Several months later, they gather with friends and neighbors to celebrate Sophie's second birthday, marking a successful year of shared parenting and solidifying their relationship.
Production
Filming took place on location in an upscale residence within Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood. Scenes set in Holly Berenson's bakery were shot at Belly General Store located in Virginia-Highland, a historic shopping district northeast of Downtown Atlanta. Eric’s workplace scenes were filmed at Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) on Techwood Drive, with additional sequences captured at Philips Arena.
Reception
The film holds a 30% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 152 reviews; critics acknowledged the strong chemistry between Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel but criticized the predictable storyline and weak screenplay. On Metacritic, it earned a score of 39 out of 100 from 31 reviews, reflecting "Generally Unfavorable" opinions. Nevertheless, audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the movie an "A−" grade.
Release
Life as We Know It generated $53.4 million in the domestic market and $52.5 million from international audiences, culminating in a global box office revenue of $105.9 million, compared to its $38 million production cost.